[[rumor] benning wants reinhart]

Botchford had mentioned a few days ago that Benning is really high on the local boys (Virtanen/Reinhart). And that Fla is high on Garrison and looking for a quality d-man in trade for 1st overall.

While both Reinhart/Virtanen are great players, this smells like a "please the fans" move (like the Gillis firing/ Linden hiring) more than anything. I hope they take the best player available despite birth location.

And if they are trading up, the only d-man that's expendable is Garrison (IMO). Tanev is too much to give-up IMO.

First off, I would take anything Botchford says with a heavy grain of salt. That said, I would have to agree with you in regards to Garrison. I would much rather have Tanev as part of our D-core going forward. The only potential problem would be from Garrison's end as I think he has a NTC/NMC. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong though

[[Report] Sportsnet's Dane Fox: Jets GM has been fielding calls for Evander Kane]

This is one player I would have no problem unloading some of our young talent for.

He's a proven 30 goal scorer and one of the best young powerforwards in the game. Unfortunately I don't think Gillis has the balls or the brains to make a move like that.

But imagine:

Sedin Sedin Kane

Burrows Kesler Kassian

A much bigger and tougher top 6. Honestly if Gillis doesn't wake up and realize this is what it's gonna take to compete against teams like LA, San Jose, and St.Louis, it's gonna be another wasted season. Right now we're just kidding ourselves if we think our top 6 in it's current form can compete with the top teams in the west in the playoffs.

I agree that Kane would make us tougher and legitimate contenders in the west. I am just not sure that we can afford the price. The last thing we would like to see is a Neely repeat, unless it favours us that is.

[[Report] Sportsnet's Dane Fox: Jets GM has been fielding calls for Evander Kane]

First let me say that I would love to see Evander in a a Canucks jersey. However, I just don't see it happening. Simply put, it would likely take a significant number of our top prospects just to make Winnepeg interested, then we have would have to find a roster player who THEY would be happy taking in return. Our prospects are our future for this club and I would hate to see a good portion of our young talent go just to land one player, even as good as Kane is. it would be like trying to acquire Crosby or Malkin. Too rich for us to be even a factor